Americas...:Pentagon Chief to Discuss War Aims in Mideast Th...

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Pentagon Chief to Discuss War Aims in Mideast This Week

Local Editor

US War Secretary Jim Mattis is looking to the Middle East and North Africa for broader contributions and new ideas to fight extremism as the Trump administration fleshes out its counter-terrorism strategy.

Mattis's trip to the region, which began with his departure Monday night, includes stops with longstanding allies Saudi Arabia and ‘Israel', and new partners like Djibouti.

Meanwhile, as the Trump administration enhances its efforts, Mattis has made a point of consulting counterparts around the world. His goals include expanding the American-led coalition against Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the Takfiri ‘ISIS/ISIL' group] in Iraq and Syria, but also combating al-Qaeda, whose Yemen branch is posing particular worry as it uses ungoverned spaces in the Arab world's poorest country to plan attacks on the United States.

In announcing Mattis's trip, the Pentagon said last week he would be discussing ways to "defeat extremist terror organizations."

Mattis is starting his travels Tuesday in Riyadh, where he is expected to meet senior Saudi leaders. Saudi Arabia has been leading a bombing campaign in Yemen two years ago.

The Trump administration is considering providing intelligence, aerial refueling and other military assistance to the United Arab Emirates, which is helping the Saudis. The UN says some 50,000 civilians have been killed or wounded in the three-year stalemate.

Worries about Daesh aren't limited to Syria and Iraq. Its influence has spread to Libya and elsewhere in North Africa.

Mattis told a Pentagon news conference last week that he hoped to bring as many other nations as possible into the administration's new strategy, which involves diplomatic and other non-military features. He said that plan was still in "skeleton form," though it was being "fleshed out."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team